Stopping Clark will be the thing that the majority of fans will no doubt say that's Leeds' key to victory. However, for me keeping the amount of 2nd phase ball Cas get. It's the offloads from the likes of Millington, Huby, and Lynch that have been crucial to Cas' success all season, and it's what we struggled to prevent in the last game against them. Huby and Millington being injured will be a huge loss for them, but I think we'd be daft just to focus on stopping one player. Cas have done so well this year because they've played as a unit, and with Chase gone they're a much more balanced side.

Agreed. Can see us winning rather easily. Our golden generation need this trophy. I just cant see us messing it up at all. It could be their last CC final for some.

It should be a good final, especially after last years dross. The type of rugby cas have played this season has impressed me. Also I am pleased cas have got to wembly, mainly because its a pure rugby town. Plus the fact over the last few seasons cas have had more downs than ups.
In spite of this ,the majority of fans have stuck by the club. It was pleasing to see Shenton going back to cas and showing what a good centre he is. Certainly at saints he did not get much support.
Most teams at wembly seem to want to play open rugby and throw the ball about. Cas and Leeds like to play that type of game so it has the potential to be a classic.

Well said mate. Both West Yorkshire sides doing the business in Lancashire was awesome. It looks like its going to be a massive crowd too.

I think that if we ignore the kicking threat of both Finn & Sneyd we could be in for an upset.
I'm looking forward to the contest between Shenton & Watkins, both vying for an international centre spot for me.
I've previously been underwhelmed by Shenton, pacy but defensively weak I've always thought. But this year he's been a revelation in attack & defence plus he's a good leader of the team.

I was fortunate to go to the yorkshire cup final when we beat Cas at elland road.
That was a cracking match ,we played well with schofield scoring a long distance interception try.
Although we deserved to win Cas had a lot of the play, so the score which was over thirty points slightly flattered us.
Looking back at Cas they have produced some top notch players, including Reily,Ward Hepworth , Hardisty and John Joyner. That just a few of a whole host of top players, did crooks hail from Cas?. I suspect he did, I almost forgot one of the games best players and an absolute gentleman, Roger Millward.

Cas have only managed 6 points against us the 2nd halves of the league games we played and that came after we went down to 12 men. So for me they need to be at least two scores clear at halftime.

Leeds have had a tendency in most of their finals over the last several years to start slow and usually concede the first try so again the first 40 mins next week will be crucial.

I was debating with a Wire fan who said had Wire played like they did in the 2nd for the full 80 then they'd won. Pointed out that because of the scoreline Leeds approached the 2nd in a certain manner to keep Wire at that 2/3 score disadvantage and weren't really interested in pushing for more scores to put themselves out of it. Some of the post match interviews kinda highlight this with talk of the halftime discussion. I think the same tactics will be employed against Cas, going for possession, completing sets, risk-free play, doing the basics....and trying to get in the faces of the Cas attackers to force the errors we saw Wire make.

Think if we come through London on Sunday with a clean bill of health then we'll win. Losing Peacock (2010) and McGuire (2012) just before previous finals really hit is hard.

Also, it seems like we're getting to wear our home kit this year!

Shall we not bother turning up on the 23rd then seeing as you think Leeds will win rather easily as I'd not want to waste my time going there just to get a battering

?

Arrogance of some Leeds fans that's all. We have played you twice and you have beaten us by 8 and then it was a draw. I believe we sit on the same amount of points in the league as you but scores a hefty amount of tries more. Your defence has been much better though.

Still don't see how any of you can say we will batter Cas or we will win easy etc.... Why have played in 3 major games this season I would say. The draw against you which if we had lost would of left us out of the running for top. Wigan in the quaters where we conceded 4 points. Widnes in the semis where we conceded 6 points. The occasion hasn't got to us yet so I think that will be no problem.

It's going to be a close game but I do think you will win. I just think it's ignorant that some of you are still putting us down.

But let's not also presume Cas can turn up in a major final. All new ground to them, let's see how they handle the occasion.

But don't Leeds struggle in the CC Final games??

Well, that's up to you really isn't it

Not sure where all this underestimating Cas comes from.
I for one will not be underestimating them nor will the Leeds players.
They have nothing to lose and if they do lose well it is no major shock to the RL World.
They will go out to enjoy the occasion and play free flowing rugby that might get them the result.
They will certainly have the desire and so will Leeds.
They will also have the majority of neutrals cheering them on.
So let`s hope we go down the seige mentality with our backs to the walls and come out fighting.
This game could go either way and is another one difficult to call IMO.

Clarke doesn't need a wide pitch to scare me although the extra width at Wembley may give him the extra 1/2 yard's gap which is all he needs. We really need to pressure him, slow the ruck down so he can't scoot and ensure that we have both markers in place at the PTB otherwise he'll exploit us.

So you get 2 from 25,000 Leeds fans thinking Leeds will win easily. Which on RLFANS.COM is translated that all Leeds fans think they will win easily.

But we must presume they will turn up as anything less would be very foolish

On second thoughts then I'll be there that day. Hopefully it'll be a nice fun day for all of us there.

Correct. He flourishes from quick PTBs and stepping forward from the mark.

I always rated Shenton defensively, but felt he was starved of quality ball at Saints to do much in attack. I'd say he's a better defender than Watkins, but Watkins has the superior attack - especially with his running & footwork.

Which, by the laws of RLFANs.COM automatically means leeds will lose so cas can talk about how everyone in leeds thought it would be easy and how they sure showed us.

Maybe my comments were based on the frequency & the manner in which Senior always outmuscled him, mind you he did that to most of his opponents.
The only exception was Jamie Lyon when they tended to nullify each other.

What is wrong with Leeds fans expressing optimism about the Leeds team on the Leeds forum? It will not have a bearing on the result.

Does it matter if fans from other clubs come to gloat if Leeds lose? I have not met any of the regular message board users from southstander, so why should I care if they are ridiculed by fans of other clubs? 5 minutes in the real southstand should make it clear that a significant portion of our fans know v. little about the game or its rulings - why are you surprised when they express similar views on an internet forum?

But on the specific issue of the CC final result, YOU in all your wisdom cannot say that Leeds will definitely not win by a large score. Are you always right? To be honest I get the impression that you always want to diminish Leeds' chances of winning anything for fear of being pulled up by fans of other clubs (who you are even less likely to have met), but secretly you believe Leeds will win and are too afraid to admit.

I think Leeds will win it, by roughly a 10 point margin.

It's reverse psychology, if the fans rubbish their team's chances & bull up the opposition's then thier side is bound to win.
Obvious really, since what we say, what we wear & our match-day routine all have a bearing on how the team performs on the pitch.

It happens with both group of fans and it will intensify as the game gets closer

I think that there may be a modicum of truth with the influence that fans have on a team's performance - BMcD, JP and Sinny have all expressed an opinion about the way Leeds fans have lifted them on several occasions.